CHIEF Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, while hearing the missing persons’ case, has said the political government does not [seem] interested in improving conditions in Balochistan. Neither is the national anthem played nor the national flag hoisted in Quetta, he said, while wondering how the government is taking it…. The chief justice said the constitution will adopt its own course if the prime minister fails to deliver. The situation may further deteriorate if attention is not paid to Balochistan.

The crime rate is rising, ulema are being killed, no-go areas are growing in Quetta, police seem helpless and everything [is at a] standstill. We order missing persons’ production but their bodies are found…. We summon the provincial government, ISI and MI, but no one pays heed, [the CJ remarked].

The chief justice’s views reflect the feelings of every Pakistani. The Balochistan issue is a ‘gift’ of … military dictators that has become cancerous. Unfortunately, political governments too have carelessly dealt with it. The last dictator attempted to silence the voices under [the] military’s boots. By getting … Akbar Bugti killed, he tried to establish his supremacy. But the action stoked rebellion…. The present [government] … has totally sidelined Balochistan. Instead of [healing] … the wounds, Balochistan was ignored and treated as a stepchild, giving mere lip service to the problem. In fact, the … federal government has proved itself the most inefficient … so far with regard to tackling Balochistan or other issues in the country.

It has been unable to resolve issues from controlling power and gas loadshedding to inflation. In addition, Mr Gilani continues to use the slogan of Punjab’s division as a source of cheap publicity. One can ask … him … why he is bent upon destroying the nation by creating a fifth province when he is unable to control the existing ones. By taking notice of the missing persons, the chief justice has started … good work. His remarks reflect patriotic people’s aspirations and the government must take note of them. — (May 24)

Selected and translated by Intikhab Hanif.